Germany is a place to be when it comes to research
I was in Germany(Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering) between 2006 and 2008 on AvH sponsored fellowship. I was again in germany in August 2009 on a DAAD sponsored International Dean's Course. For the third time in succession, I was in Germany for 3 months between August and October, 2010 for research. I love Germany and her people.
Ich muss auch etwas fuer Deutschland sagen... (Ich bin auch als Student da gewesen)
I think Germany is one of the few countries that really values international students and research visitors for their intellectual contributions and needs, not just as a customers from whom money can be extracted.
In the long-term, this is one of the best ways to obtain value from relationships between countries.
P.